Well, we just got news yesterday that Frasure Creek, the company that had sought the permits to mine there, has withdrawn their 404 application for "economic reasons." If they want to seek a permit again they'll have to start at the beginning of the process, incur more costs, and face more opposition.

A big thanks to all of you who took the time to send in letters opposing this mine! With national pressure for investors to pull their support from MTR, legislative traction in D.C., and federal agencies beginning to show interest in actually regulating and enforcing the law, coal companies are on the defensive. Let's all keep up the good work!

Coal's Assault on Human HealthPhysicians for Social Responsibility has released a groundbreaking medical report, “Coal’s Assault on Human Health,” which takes a new look at the devastating impacts of coal on the human body. Coal combustion releases mercury, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and dozens of other substances known to be hazardous to human health. This report looks at the cumulative harm inflicted by those pollutants on three major body organ systems: the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, and the nervous system. The report also considers coal’s contribution to global warming, and the health implications of global warming.